Staff from IU Health North and Saxony hospitals spent time Sept. 20 performing a day of service at Geist Park in Fishers. Staff members planted trees and a rain garden and beautified trails, repaired picnic tables, spread mulch and built shelters during the 11th annual event.
“We do a great job inside our walls, and this is a way of helping the community by creating a way to have access to trails and lead a healthy lifestyle,” IU Health Regional President Doug Puckett said. “Part of our Community Health Needs Assessment identified obesity as a key issue, and we also know from research that people who regularly use parks have lower-than-average obesity rates.”
Approximately 150 staff members, who divided into two groups and worked one shift each, participated in the day of service. Carl Zenor, a senior project manager for IU Health Saxony in Fishers, has participated in all 11 days of service.
“It’s awesome to be able to give back to the community,” Zenor said. “We spend so much time helping patients within the walls of the hospital, but to be able to go out and do something for a community that doesn’t always see us is a good effort.”
This is the hospital’s first year working in Geist Park. Previously, it has sent volunteer groups to Cool Creek Park in Westfield and Coxhall Gardens in Carmel.
Puckett said there were projects at each hospital for staff members who couldn’t participate in the day of service, such as putting milkweed seed packets together and painting kindness rocks.
For more, visit iuhealth.org.
